Steve Viksten, ‘Hey Arnold!’ Voice Actor, Dies at 54

Steve Viksten, voice actor and writer on 'Hey Arnold!', died Monday at the age of 54. The Huffington Post reports that no cause of death was released.

Viksten voiced Oskar Kokoshka, who was a recurring character on the show that resided in the boarding house where the show's protagonist, fourth grader Arnold, lives. He was mostly depicted as being lazy and unemployed, characterized with a Eastern European accent.

Viksten also penned several episodes of the show and co-wrote the 'Hey Arnold!' movie with creator Craig Bartlett. 'Hey Arnold!' aired on Nickelodeon for five seasons across eight years from 1996 to 2004. The show told the adventures of a boy named Arnold who moves in with his grandparents and lives in a boarding house in the city of Hillwood. He and his friends often embark on adventures and investigate urban legends.

Nickelodeon released the following statement regarding Viksten's death.

"We are deeply saddened to learn that Steve Viksten has passed away. Steve was a gifted artist and we were honored to have the opportunity to work with him on our beloved shows 'Hey Arnold!' and 'Rugrats.' Our heartfelt condolences go out to his loved ones."